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Your nature year

Rocky Mount, North Carolinathrough the year

Also for Wilson, NC: the same nearby places.

When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Rocky Mount?

Expect about 221 frost-free days in Rocky Mount: the last spring frost usually comes around Mar 31, the first fall one around Nov 7, going by NOAA's Rocky Mt 8 ESE station 8.8 miles away. Rocky Mount sits at about 110 feet.

Spring green-up reaches town around Feb 17, with first blooms around Mar 26. Spring takes about 5 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. Within 150 miles we follow 3 places, out to Pee Dee Refuge 143 miles to the southwest. The closest place we follow is Pocosin Lakes Refuge, 73 miles away, for winter wildlife, Nov 1–Feb 28 (local timing). For fall foliage, the nearest is Great Dismal Swamp Refuge (86 mi, Oct 21–31 (local timing)). Across North Carolina, fall color is usually well under way by mid-October.

Updated Sep 28. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Rocky Mount's year at a glance

  • Frost possible
  • Frost-free, ~Mar 31 to ~Nov 7
  • First leaf ~Feb 17
  • First bloom ~Mar 26
  • Fall color under way ~Oct 18 (NC)
  • Today

Near Rocky Mount right now

  • Fall color is usually well under way by mid-October in North CarolinaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast
    ~3 weeks
  • First fall frost usually around Nov 7 · last spring frost around Mar 31NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rocky Mt 8 ESE (8.8 mi, 50% dates)
    ~6 weeks
  • Pee Dee Refuge · 143 mi · Local timing: Sep 1–Nov 30Fall foliage · in its window now
    In season
  • Winter wildlife · Pocosin Lakes Refuge · 73 miLocal timing: Nov 1–Feb 28
    ~5 weeks

Rocky Mount's nature year

From the town's own dates and its nearest places
  • Spring green-upFeb
  • Last spring frostMar
  • Fall color (NC)Oct
  • First fall frostNov
  • Winter wildlife · Pocosin Lakes RefugeNov–Feb

Nearby, season by season

Real places within 150 miles, straight-line

Fall foliage

Winter wildlife

Frost and green-up

Last spring frost

Mar 31

Average (50% date)

First fall frost

Nov 7

About 221 days without frost between

Spring green-up

Feb 17

First bloom around Mar 26

Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Rocky Mt 8 ESE (8.8 mi from Rocky Mount), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.

Questions people ask

When is the first frost in Rocky Mount?

On average around Nov 7, and the last spring frost around Mar 31: about 221 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Rocky Mt 8 ESE, 8.8 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).

When does spring green-up reach Rocky Mount?

The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 17 and first bloom around Mar 26, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.

Where can I see fall foliage near Rocky Mount?

Great Dismal Swamp Refuge, 86 miles (local timing: Oct 21–31); Pee Dee Refuge, 143 miles (local timing: Sep 1–Nov 30). Distances are straight-line.

Where can I see winter wildlife near Rocky Mount?

Pocosin Lakes Refuge, 73 miles (local timing: Nov 1–Feb 28). Distances are straight-line.

How we know

US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28)

All our sources and how we use them →